Adjustable securing device for trusses



Aug. 23 1927. I ,6 29

\ H. P. BALTZER ADJUSTABLE sncuame nnvrcn For: TRussEs Filed June 11. 1925 mug/v ram Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

PATENT err-ace.

HENRY P. BALTZER, 0F HALIBURG, NEW YORK.

ADJUSTABLE SECURING- DIlVIGE FOR TRUSSES.

This invention relates to trusses, and more particularly to improvements in adjusting means or devices therefor, which are used for the purpose of adjusting the trusses about the body of the wearer and maintaining the pad or pads of the truss in proper position.

The present invention is particularly applicable to trusses formed of a yielding body embracing member of the sort usually made of one or more strips of metal suitably covered, and provided at one or both ends with pads, and which is placed under tension for adjusting and holding the pads firmly in their intended position.

Some objects of the present invention are to provide an improved adjusting device for trusses of the character stated, in which provision is made for. a primary or coarse adj ustment adapting the truss to be adjusted to the girth of different individuals, and a secondary or fine adjustment by appropriate manipulations of which the truss may be closely and accurately fitted, and which may be easily and quickly adjusted to meet varying or temporary conditions; also to pro- I vide an adjusting device for trusses which is instantly detachable or separable to permit the truss to be removed from the body of the wearer without in any way affecting either the primary or secondary adjustments previously effected.

Other objects are to provide, in a truss of this sort, a primary adjusting means which is composed of partswhich cannot stretch or shrink and thereby change the relation of the ends of the truss, and will therefore positively remain in its adjusted position, but which can nevertheless be quickly changed so as to permit the truss pads to be moved appreciable distances from or toward each other so that the pads may be positioned approximately in their correct relation on the wearer, and in which the secondary adjusting means is connected to said primary adjusting means, so that the distance between the ends or pads of the truss can be instantly changed to suit temporary conditions or needs of the wearer without affecting the approximate adjustment secured by the primary or coarse adjustment; also to provide secondary or fine adjusting means which, after having been adjusted to correctly position the ends of the truss, may be temporarily released to slacken the truss,

and which can be instantly returned to its position.

Application filed June 11, 1825. Serial No. 36,397.

original position without affecting the adjustment thereof; also to improve or simplify adjusting means for trusses in the other respects hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a face view of a truss showing, by way of example, one embodiment of my improved truss adjusting device applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the adjusting device and the adjacent ends or pads of the truss.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the adjusting device, on line 33, Fig. 1.

Figs. at and .5 are vertical sections, taken on an enlarged scale, on the line 4-4, Fig. 2, showing two different adjustments of the secondary adjusting means.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the secondary adjusting means in releasing Fig. 7 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, on line 77, Fig. 3.

The adjusting device of the present invention may be applied to different forms of trusses of that sort which are adapted to yield or give, so as to be maintained in position about the body of the wearer by being placed under tension, and for the purpose of disclosing the invention a truss A formed of a strip or strips of leather covered metal is shown, having pads a and a at opposite ends. The adjusting device, designated genorally at B, is adapted to be secured to the endsor pads a, 0; of the truss and to extend across the space between said pads for the v purpose of positioning these pads as is usual, by appropriate adjustments of said device B.

In the particular embo'liment of the invention shown, the adjusting device B comprises a primary or coarse adjusting means 10 attached to one of the ends or pads, and a secondary or fine adjustment 11 attached to the other pad a, and which is flexibly connected to the primary means 10, as by a chain 12 composed of a plurality of links 13 of any suitable form so that by drawing the chain taut the truss will be placed under tension when in use. I

For the purpose of effecting a quick primary or coarse adjustment, a partis provided which is adapted to be detachably secured to any one of the links 1 so as to for this purpose, in the construction shown a split ring 14: is provided, such as is commonly known as a key ring, and which is connected to one of the pads in a suitable manner as by means of a loop or shackle 15 secured to a flexible attaching element such as the leather tongue 16, which is preferably pivotally and detachably secured to the pad a, as by means of an aperture or slit 17 formed therein and engageable over a fixed stud 18 projecting outwardly from the truss A. By disconnecting and moving the split ring 14 from one of the links and securing it to another link, the pads a and a may be quickly moved an appreciable distance towards or from each other as required.

By using the chain 12, instead of the usual leather strap and buckle, the desired flexibility is secured without the stretching and shrinkage which commonly occurs with leather or fabric connecting members.

The fine adjusting means 11 preferably includes a screw threaded rod 20 provided at one end with a fixed shackle or head 21 provided with a pin or stud 22 adapting it to pivotally secured to that end of the chain 12 which is adjacent the pad or. For the purpose of varying slightly the distance between the pads a and a after the initial adjustment has been effected by the adjusting means 10, the threaded rod 20 is arranged to pass through an aperture 24 in a fixed lug or projection 25 formed on a plate 26 rigidly secured, as by means of a screw or stud 2? and prongs 27 to the outer face of-the pad a, and the rod 20 is provided with a nut 28 movable lengthwise thereon, and which is adapted to bear against the outer face of said lug 25.

In the construction shown, the aperture 24% is provided with a rounded portion 30 which is of less dimensions than the transverse dimensions of the nut 28 and is formed with a tapered or chamfered seat 30, and the nut is provided with a tapered or conical end 31 adapted to fit in said seat 30 with a wedging action.

After the coarse or primary adjustment of the truss has been made, the pads a and a may be very accurately positioned by turning the nut 28 on the rod 20 in one direction or another as required, so that after the proper adjustment of the truss has been effected, the'resulting tension under which the same is placed will cause the nut 31 to be maintained in contact with the lug 25, while through the medium of the flexible connection of chain 12, the pads a and a are permitted to adapt themselves to the body movements of the wearer, thereby providing the maximum of comfort during the use of the truss,

' The truss is preferably further provided with means for permitting the tension thereon to .be temporarily relieved without removing the truss or disturbing tl e adjustments thereof, and for this purpose, in the construction shown, the aperture 2 1: of the lug 25 is formed with an enlarged portion which is sutiiciently large to permit the nut 28 to easily pass therethrough, so that if an outward pull be exerted upon the rod 20, to disconnect the nut 28 from the seat 30 of the aperture 21, the rod 2t) may be passed tl'irougl'r the connecting portion 36 said aperture to bring the nut 28 into alignment with the enlarged portion of said aperture, and allow the same to pass theretl'u'ough in a direction towards the other pad a.

If desired, means may be provided for enabling said outward movements to be effected. for this purpose comprises a chain. 4-0 pivotally connected to a head 41 on the Outer end of the rod 20, said chain being, if desired, connected to a ring 1-2 at its outer end, and which forms a convenient means adapted to be gras )ed so as to exert an outward pull on the rod 20. The outer head etl ,of the rod is preferably of a size such that it will readily pass through the portion of the aperture 2%, and the ring a2 is adapted to form a stop engageable with the lug 25 to prevent the chain from passing entirely out through the aperture 24. The outward movement of the rod 20 is preferably limited, as, for instance, by forming the inner head or shackle 21 thereof of a size such that it cannot pass through the a ierture 2 1-, so that by this arrangement the chain 12 cannot accidently pass into said aperture, and upset or change the adjustment of the device B or cause the misplacement of the pads a or a. By making the shackle or head 21 larger than the enlarged part 24: of the key hole slot or opening, the placing of the parts of the fine adjustment into their operative positions is greatly facilitated since the chain ll is then pulled until the shackle 21 acts as a stop against the lug 25, whereupon the chain 40 is pulled downwardly to move the bolt into the narrow portion of the slot.

By means of the adjusting means B de scribed, the truss A can be readily adjusted The means shown in the drawings ihi so as to approximately position the pads a and a thereof according to the individual users requirements by means of the coarse or primary adjustment 10, after which an exact adjustment of the pads may be effected by means of the secondary or fine adj ustment 11. V

If during the wearing of the truss, the user desires to momentarily release the pressure thereof, this may be done by disengaging the nut 28 from the seat 3O vand allov ing it to pass through the portion 35 of the aperture 24, while when it is necessary to remove the truss entirely, the same may be instantly accomplished by disconnecting lit the user and placing said body member under tension puck operable means for slackening said truss and relieving the ten-,

sion on said bodymember, and quick detachable means independent of said slackeningmeans for disconnecting said ad usting device and permitting the removal of the truss.

2. In a truss, the combination ot a flexihie body embraclng member, an ad usting device for adjusting the truss to fit the user and placing said body member under tension, said adjusting. device having quick detachable means for slackening said truss and relieving the tension on said body member, said quick detachable means being constructed to permit said truss to be slackened and again placed under tension without disturbing the original adjustment of the truss or said adjusting device.

3. In a truss having a yielding body embracing member formed with its ends in spaced relation, pads on said ends achain adjustably connected to one of the ends of said truss, adjusting means including a plate fixed to the other end of said truss, an apertured part extending from said plate, a rod passing through saidaperture and having aswivelled connection with said chain, and a partmovable lengthwise on said rod and adapted to bear against said apertured part of said plate which is adapted to vary the distance between said ends of said truss and to place said truss under tension to position said pads by appropriate movements thereof along said rod.

l. In a truss having a yielding body embracing member tormed with its ends in spaced relation, pads on said ends, a flexible member connected to one of the ends of said truss, adjusting means including a plate fixed to the'other end of said truss, a part projecting from said plate and having an aperture therein, a. threaded rod passing through said aperture and having a connection with said flexible member at one side of said projecting part, and a nut movable lengthwise upon said rod'and disposed on the opposite side'ot said projecting part and adapted to engage the same,;whereby' movements of said nut along said rod will cause the distance between said truss pads to be varied and saidtruss placed under,

tension. j

, 5. In a truss having a yielding body enn bracing member formed with its ends in spaced relation, padson said ends a flexible member connected to one ot the ends of? said-truss, adjusting means including a plate fixed to the other end of said truss, a part pro ecting from 'E'ZtlCl plate and having an aperture therein, a threaded rod passing through said aperture and'having a connection with said flexible member at one side of said projecting part, a nut movable lengthwise upon said rod "and disposed on the opposite side of said projecting part and adapted to engage the same,whereby m0vements'of said nut along said rod will cause the distance between saidtruss ends to be varied and said truss placed under tension, and said nut having a tapered end adapted to engage a tapered seat formed in said aperture to frictionally maintain said nut in engagement with said projecting part while said trues is under tension.

,6. In a truss having a yielding body embracing member formed with its ends in spaced relation, pads on said ends, a flexible member connected to one of the ends of said truss, ad usting means including a plate 'iixed to the other end of said truss, a part projecting from said plate and having an aperture therein, a threaded rod passing through said aperture and having a connections of said projecting part to maintain a desired relation between said truss ends and hold said truss under tension, and said aperture also having a portion through which said nut may pass toward said first mentioned end of said truss, to permit the tension on said truss to be relieved.

7. In a truss having a yielding body embracing member formed with its ends in spaced relation, pads on said ends a flexible member connected to one. ofthe ends of said truss, adjusting means including a plate fixed to the other end of said truss, a part pro ecting from said plate and having an aperture therein, a threaded rod passing through said aperture and having connec tion with said flexible member at one side of said projecting part, a nut movable lengthwlse upon sa d rodand disposed on the opposite side of said projecting part, i

said aperture in saidpr'ojecting part having aportion of, less dimensions than said nut to permit saidrod to pass therethrough and said nut to-abut against the adjacent por tions of said projecting part to maintaln a desired relation between said truss pads and member the ends oi which are in spaced relatiom pads on said endsthe combination of primary quickad ustlng means pivotally connected to one of said ends and adapted to effect approximate adjustments of said truss a secondary fine adjusting means connected to the other end, said primary adjusting means having a flexible part connected to said secondary adjusting means and adapted to be drawn taut thereby, said secondary fine adjusting means being oper able to effect a close adjustment of said truss, and said ends of said truss being adapted to change their relative positions in accordance with the body movements of the wearer Without disturbing said adjustments of said truss by reason of said pivotal connection of said primary adjusting means and said flexible connection between t the same and said secondary adjusting means. v

HENRY P. BALTZEB.- 

